Ogden man accused of hitting, killing Stansbury Park man while driving drunk

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ERDA, Tooele County — A Stansbury Park man was hit and killed by a suspected drunk driver Thursday morning in Tooele County.

Grant Goodwin, 40, was jogging on the shoulder of state Route 36 near Cimmarron Way about 6:10 a.m. when he was was hit by a 2016 Ford Escape, according to the Utah Highway Patrol Lt. Nick Street.

The Ford “drifted off onto the shoulder and fatally struck the pedestrian,” according to a statement from the UHP. “Signs of impairment and alcohol use were observed from the driver.”

Max Joseph Pagano, 46, of Ogden, was arrested for investigation of automobile homicide and DUI causing serious injury. Pagano told troopers he was headed to work when “he saw something and attempted to brake swerve to the left, but he hit what he stated he thought was a deer. He stated he didn’t realize it was a person until he stopped his vehicle on the right shoulder and walked back to where the victim came to rest,” according to a police affidavit.

Troopers, however, did not observe any skid marks that would indicate “heavy braking” and did not see any debris that would indicate any collision in the road itself, the affidavit states.

The arresting trooper reported detecting a strong odor of alcohol on Pagano’s breath. “The driver stated that he had been drinking last night and woke up early to go to work,” according to the affidavit.

Pagano was given a Breathalyzer test, which registered at a 0.125% blood alcohol level, or 2 ¹⁄₂ times the legal limit.

from Deseret News https://ift.tt/2YlCZfU